Hello from Bethlehem!  We arrived here on Friday afternoon, had some time to find our rooms, brush teeth and walk up the block for dinner at the ICB (International Center of Bethlehem).  We had a brief meeting and then off to bed.  To be honest I barely remember that night.  I slept so hard that I never heard my alarm the next morning.  I think it went off for 45 minutes!  This morning I was back on track.

Saturday morning we were met by our guide Niam, he is Palestinian Christian (Lutheran...born, baptized, confirmed and raised in Jerusalem...where he still lives.)  We are blessed to have him as our guide.  He took us Saturday out of Bethlehem through Jerusalem to Masada.  We spent much time there looking, learning, exploring, and imagining what it was like for the Zealots who too refuge there when Jerusalem was under attack by Romans AD 70 - 73.  The synagogue was built so the people would face Jerusalem, so they would keep their eyes on home and never forget.  The Zealots received helped from neighbors including the Samaritans, but in the end 10,000 Romans along with the Zealots own friends, neighbors, and family who were forced to fight against them and Masada fell on Aug 8 73.  Only 3 men remained alive in the end, the Rabbi and his helpers.  All the others had taken part in a ritual mass suicide, so as not to be killed by friends or enslaved by Rome.  None ever made it back to Jerusalem. 

After Masada we traveled to the Dead Sea to see, touch and dip in the water.  The water is 27% salt and minerals...I should warn you that if you hope to visit the Dead Sea to do so soon as it is being drained away at a very rapid rate.  This is partly due to the fact that companies are creating cosmetics and lotions and other skin products with these waters and more so because much water is being taken from the Sea of Galilee for water to the territories. 

From Masada to Jericho.  I spent the day singing "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho". (Hi Josh!) From Jericho we can see the wilderness mountain where the first two temptations of Christ took place.  Whew!  Jericho is a beautiful city, old city.  I stood right at a part of the old wall...and believe me it is "tumbled down".

Today, Sunday morning we walked up the block to Christmas Lutheran Church for worship.  All Arabic worship...beautiful.  We were invited by the Rev (Mitri Raheb) to pray the prayer of our Lord together each in our own language...and it sounded beautiful!  This was the communion of saints.  (Side note:  the best cup of coffee I have had since arriving was at Christmas Lutheran...dark, thick, strong with lots of sugar in the bottom of my cup.  Delicious AND got rid of my headache.)

Also today we visited the Church of the Nativity...no one was fighting with broomsticks.  It is interesting, I don't know if you saw that on t.v recently with the big fight before Christmas...but in talking with people here it is known that what you own you care for and what you care for you own.  Therefore, it makes since that fights can break out. 

I have so much to write and so little time to do it.  We off now to meet with a Muslim Sheik then dinner. 

One thing I can say is that tomorrow we are going to Shepherd's Field and I will be leading my worship.  My focus will be PEACE.